The answer was a long time in coming, and it wasn’t good news for wine and beer package store operators who might want to move to an all-alcohol license.

The state has ruled that only 10 of Barnstable’s 14 full-alcohol package store licenses can be reissued if they are turned in or revoked. The remaining four, acquired decades ago under special legislation, may only be transferred between owners.

The town has 10 wine and beer package store licenses, with nine in use. AM/PM convenience store on Bearse’s Way in Hyannis has applied for the 10th, and is expected back before the authority in April following a zoning board appearance.

Consequences of the decision fall directly on Barnstable Market, which had applied for a full-alcohol license; it has a beer and wine permit already. In this light, it appears it would have been best for the previous owner to have transferred the all-alcohol license.

At the authority’s March 4 meeting, Richard Scali, the town’s director of consumer affairs, said he had spoken with the chairman of the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and been told that seasonal all-alcohol licenses have been rolled into the town’s quota of 10. The decision, he said, “does not prevent you from challenging that or going to the Legislature to ask for more licenses or a change in interpretation.”

Tom Geiler, director of regulatory services, said he couldn’t agree with the decision. “If you remember when this went before town meeting,” he told the authority’s members (such is their longevity that they did remember the pre-1989 events), “the intent was not to simply make these licenses anything other than full package store licenses and eliminate the so-called seasonal package licenses.”

Even so, Geiler said, the appeals process “is kind of onerous. If there is any inclination to change, you might think about doing it legislatively.”

“It’s up to us to lead an appeal,” chairman Marty Hoxie mused. “Is there a public need for more licenses?” Later, he said simply, “Leave it alone.”

Geiler suggested waiting to “see what the discussion is in the industry, and the public. There are options out there.”